SAFE CROP BURNING URGED

Released on September 17, 2001

Remember the health and fire risks before you burn, is the message the

Agricultural Burning Awareness Program is sending out to producers this

fall. The program is a joint effort of civic and health officials and the

provincial government.



"We're asking producers to explore options to burning – for the health of

their neighbours and the health of their soil," Deputy Premier and

Agriculture and Food Minister Clay Serby said.



"Smoke from straw or pasture fires can cause serious breathing problems,

while working the straw back into the land will return valuable nutrients

to the soil. As well, producers may be missing an opportunity to provide

excess straw to cattle ranchers whose supplies are short due to drought.



"This year in particular, extremely dry conditions throughout the grainbelt

make any type of burning very dangerous," Serby said. "We're urging

farmers to check for burning restrictions in their rural municipality and

to check the smoke dispersion conditions before they decide to burn. Dry

conditions mean fires will start easily, spread rapidly and may be

difficult to contain."



Daily ventilation forecasts for Regina and Yorkton areas, supplied by

Environment Canada, are posted on the Agricultural Burning Awareness

Program website at www.agr.gov.sk.ca/cropresidue. Producers can also call

their local rural service centre for the daily forecast.



Farmers are also reminded to limit burning activities to afternoons when

smoke is better dispersed into the atmosphere and better supervision is

possible. Burning at night increases the health and safety risk.



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For more information, contact:



Wayne Gosselin

Agriculture and Food

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-6586